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IMPROVED IMPON'DEEABLE FLUID, AlflD MODE OF GENERATING THE SAME.

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Be it known that I, MARTIN ZIEGLER, of Mulhouse, in the empire ofFrance, have invented or discovered a new and imponderable Fluid, andMethod of Generating the Same, of which Iherebv declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description.

I have observed that whenever azote and carbon, or an azotic body and acarbonized body, or a body strongly azotic and another but slightly so,are brought in contact, an imponderable fluid is disengaged, thepresence of which is manifested by certain peculiar efi'ects upon animal,or vegetable organisms. This fluid, which I call vital fluid, is a newphysical agent, generated, like heat, light, and electricity, in themidst of, chemical circumstances. It may be collected and transmitted incurrents, like the electric fluid, as will presently be shown; butwhilst the phenomena by which its presence is manifested bear a certainanalogy to electric phenomena, this fluid is nevertheless autonomic, andhas a separate and independent existence; and the best and mostconvincng proof of this is that currents of the fluid maybe conductedthrough non-electric substances.

Having described the nature of the fluid, I will now proceed to describethe manner in which it may be generated and brought to a condition inwhich it can be practically used. At the same time it will be understoodthat although I refer to and describe but one or two apparatus fittedfor my purpose, I do not limit myself to such apparatus, but hold myselfat liberty to use all processes which operate on the same principle toinduce like results.

Azotic bodies are the best conductors of the vital fluid, and among themI prefer silk, which has the advantage of intercepting or insulatingelectric currents, the intervention of which would be'detrimcntal to thefluid. As insulators for the fluid, glass, enamels, and minerals ingeneral may be used. The apparatus for generating the fluid all resemblethe voltaic pile to a certain degree; Thus, in each is found a generatorof the fluid with two heterogeneous chemical substances-the one with acarbon base, and the other with an azotic baseand two conducting threads(kinds of reaphores) for conducting the current and completing itscircuit. i

The following is a good arrangement to adopt: A bladder or like porousreceptacle is filled with caustic ammonia, and is immersed to the neckin molasses contained in an ordinary jar or suitable vessel. A thread ofsilk is attached to the neck of the bladder or porous diaphragm, and theend of a second silk thread is placed in the molasses. The two pieces ofsilk are then united, and the circuit is thus completed and closed,through which the current of the vital fl'uid passes. The effect of thefluid will be manifested on an organized being who is in the course ofthe current. If a certain number of th'ese elements arebr'ou'ghttogether in pairs, 2. dozen, for instance,'a current of great power maybeobtained which will produce on an animate being much more noticeableeffects. The elements in this case are connected by plunging the threadof theammonia, f h first element into the molasses of the followingelement, and so on or better, by uniting on one side all the ammoniathreads, and on the other all those of the molasses.

A still better arrangement maybe eli'ectod by'nleans of glass tubes. Forthis purpose aglass tube is taken whose length is from ten to fifteentimes its diameter. It should be slightly" spread at its ends, and

two cork stoppers are prepared entirely enveloped in agold-beatcrs skin,(baudruche,) which is Wrapped th or four times around each cork, andbound near the upper end of each with a silk cord which forms one of theconductors. The silk cord canIaIso be made to pass through the tube, andthis is even preferable. The tubebeing corked at one of its ends, acharcoal disk of no great thickness is placed in it.--On this disk arespread a few grains of silicious sand to prevent its contact with asecond diskofcharcoal, and care should be taken, each time the sand isintroduced to cover it with ammonia, in such manner that thewl1o-lewillbe finally immersed in the liquid. The tube being thus filled is closedby the second cork, and the vital ii uid is then produced, and' formstwo currents which flow through the conducting threads. By unitingseveral of these elements, eitherplaced end to end or brought togetherin a bundle, very powerful currents may be obtained.

The abovealescribed apparatusproduce good results, but in my experimentsI have employed in preference the following: it is composed of tubes,corked at both ends as explained, but instead ofcarbon and sili. cioussandwith ammonia, the tubes are filled with alternate layers of powderedsugar of lead and cyanide of potassium, not too dry.

It is not necessary that I should further explain the construction orarrangement of these apparatus, which may be subjected to infinitemodification according to the nature of their application and use to andin physiology, agriculture, and the industrial arts. By azotic bodies,in the above specification, I mean all bodies composed or consisting ofazote. v i

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is as follows:

1. Producing anew imponderable fluid in the manner and by the meansherein set forth and described.

2. The combination of two substainces, the one containing azote and theother containing carbon, in the manner substantially cs hereindescribed, so as to generate an imponderable fluid, and to excite orproduce a current of the some, as and for the purposes set forth. i i

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification beforetwo subscribing Witnesses.

' M., ZIEGLER;

Witnesses EL. FRIES, F. F. RANDOLPH.

